Word
flee
US/ˈfɫi/
UK/flˈiː/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
flee
Past
fled
Past participle
fled
Definitions
01to run away from danger
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to leave a place very quickly because you are in danger or afraid.
v. to run away from a place or situation of perceived danger. Often used intransitively or with a direct object representing the location or threat.
日本語:逃げる※
“Thousands of people had to flee their homes when the fire started spreading.”
“As the floodwaters rose, residents were forced to flee to higher ground, leaving most of their belongings behind.”
Usage
The past tense is 'fled'.
Pitfall
The family fleed the country during the war.
The family fled the country during the war.
The past tense and past participle of 'flee' is 'fled', not 'fleed'.
02to vanish or pass quickly
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to disappear or pass by very fast.
v. to pass away or vanish rapidly; often used in literary contexts regarding time or abstract concepts.
“All my worries seemed to flee as soon as I saw the ocean.”
“In the heat of the moment, his courage began to flee, replaced by a cold sense of dread.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “flee” in context.
Verb
01. flee across the border
“Thousands of refugees continue to flee across the border to escape the escalating civil war.”
verb + prep + noun
02. flee for safety
“As the wildfire spread rapidly, residents were advised to flee for safety immediately.”
verb + prep + noun
03. flee in terror
“Witnesses described seeing crowds flee in terror when the explosion rocked the shopping center.”
verb + prep + noun
04. flee the country
“The deposed leader was forced to flee the country as the rebel forces approached the capital.”
verb + noun
Noun
05. attempt to flee
“The suspect was apprehended during a desperate attempt to flee from the courthouse.”
noun + infinitive
06. urge to flee
“Despite his intense urge to flee, the soldier remained at his post until the mission was complete.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
07. flee southward
“The defeated army began to flee southward, hoping to regroup in the mountains.”
verb + adv
08. hastily flee
“The burglars had to hastily flee the scene when they heard the police sirens in the distance.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Wildfires fuelled by record heat are ravaging Europe, burning around 500,000 hectares and forcing thousands to flee.” “France, which has already suffered a series of major fires this season, saw another start in the southwest that forced more than 500 people to flee, officials said Friday.” Etymology
From Middle English flen, from Old English flēon, from Proto-West Germanic fleuhan, from Proto-Germanic fleuhaną, from Proto-Indo-European plewk-, plew- (“to fly, flow, run”). Cognate with Dutch vlieden, German fliehen, Icelandic flýja, Swedish fly, Gothic 𐌸𐌻𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (þliuhan). Within English, related to fly and more distantly to flow.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/flee
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0